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Burlington YMCA evacuated

A leak of potentially dangerous chemicals Friday morning prompted the evacuation of the YMCA in downtown Burlington, according to Burlington Fire Department officials.

Police and other first responders block off College Street in Burlington after responding to a call about a hazardous material leak at the YMCA Friday morning, December 16, 2016.(Photo: JESS ALOE/FREEPRESS)

A leak of potentially dangerous chemicals Friday morning prompted the evacuation of the YMCA in downtown Burlington, according to Burlington Fire Department officials.

Burlington Deputy Fire Chief Aaron Collette identified the material as hydrochloric acid, and said the building's occupants had been moved to the Y Annex in the old Ethan Allen Club building on College Street.

The building's occupants included members of the YMCA's fitness club and children who attended daycare there, as well as staff. All were safe and warm, Collette said.

Temperatures hovered close to zero downtown Friday morning.

A facilities worker noticed the leak around 8 a.m. while doing morning rounds, said YMCA spokesman Doug Bishop. The worker found the pool of chemicals in a pump maintenance room. Only maintenance staff has access to the room, Bishop said.

They evacuated the building as a precaution and called the Fire Department, who were able to contain the acid, Collette confirmed.

"“The Y will be contracting someone to clean up the chemical," Bishop said.